Packing case



C. D. FALLERT PACKING CASE March 6, 1934.

Filed March 18, 1933 Inventor C. D. Fallert Att'y.

Patented Mar. 6, 1934 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE PACKING CASE Missouri Application March 18, 1933, Serial No. 661,543

8 Claims.

My invention relates to a packing case formed largely of fiberboard or like material which would be suitable for use in shipment of dressed poultry, meat products, or other merchandise requiring a strong and rigid container.

One object of my invention is to impart greater rigidity to the case so as to increase its resistance to pressure, particularly in a vertical direction.

Another object of my invention is to provide improved sealing means for the case,- as well as temporary locking means for use after the seal has been broken for inspection of the contents.

In the accompanying drawing, which illustrates one form of packing case made in accordance with my invention, together with a modification thereof, Figure 1 is a perspective view of one end of the case, one section of the cover being shown in raised position; Figure 2 is an end elevation, showing the case sealed; Figure 3 is an enlarged end view of a portion of the case showing a temporary looking means; Figure 4 is a side view of the locking staple shown in Figure 3; Figure 5 is a fragmentary perspective view showing a modification; and Figure 6 is an end view of the fastening device.

The body of the case is made of an integral sheet of fiberboard, or other bendable material, and comprises a bottom 1, a pair of side walls 2, and a pair of hinged covers 3. The ends of the case are formed by rectangular pieces of fiberboard 4 secured to flaps 5 on the bottom and to flaps 6 on the side walls. The upper edges of the ends are reinforced by cross bars '7. As shown in the drawing, these bars are formed by the top rails of wooden frames interposed between the ends and the flaps and secured by means of staples 8, as shown and described in application of George E. Whalley Serial No. 642,830 filed November 16, 1932. My invention, however, is not limited to re use of such frames. Formed on the inner edges of the cover members are flanges 9 bent at right angles to said cover members and reinforced by wood strips 10 secured to the flanges by any suitable means, such as staples ll. Formed in the end pieces and reinforcing bars are slots 12 of a depth equal to that of the flanges so that the ends will rest upon the bottoms of the slots. The flanges and their reinforcing strips thus form a rigid brace extending throughout the length of the top of the case at its center. The width of the slots 12 is preferably just equal to the combined thickness of the flanges and strips so that the cover will be held in closed position by the frictional action of the parts.

To seal the case a metal sealing strap 13 is passed longitudinally around it covering the line of junction of the two cover members, the ends of the strap being secured together by a seal 14 of the usual kind. In order to prevent opening of the case without removal of the strap, means must be provided to prevent the strap from being moved laterally to uncover the line of junction. Ihis I accomplish by providing a groove to receive the upper strand of the strap. This groove is most conveniently formed by providing the cover members with bevels 15 forming a V-slot into the ends of which the corners of the strap are drawn, as shown in Figure 3, when the strap is tightened. Lateral movement of the strap is thus prevented so that the case can only be opened by cutting or breaking the band or seal.

While the cover will remain in. closed position by the frictional contact of the flanges with each other and of the strips with the edges of the slots, it may be found desirable to temporarily lock the case after it has been opened for inspection. This may be accomplished by connecting the strips 10 by a staple driven into their ends. An ordinary U-shaped staple may be employed for this purpose but I prefer to use a special staple, such as shown in Figure 3 and in detail in Figures 4 and 6. This staple has a fluted blade 16 slightly longer than the width of the slot 12, so as to enter not only the strips 10 but also the bar '7 and a head 17. The head 17 not only facilitates the driving of the staple into the wood but provides means for its ready withdrawal by the use of a flat tool.

In Figure 5, I have shown a modification which increases the resistance of the case to pressure in the direction of its length. In this modification the end pieces 4 and the cross bars 7 are provided with slots 12 of less depth than the flanges 9, and the flanges and their reinforcing strips 10 are correspondingly notched to provide shoulders 18 abutting the inner faces of the end pieces. By this construction the reinforced strips perform the additional function of bracing the ends against being forced inwardly.

Having fully described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. A packing case comprising side and end walls, said end walls being provided with slots in their upper edges, cover members hinged to said side walls, and reinforcing strips secured to said flanges, said reinforcing strips entering said slots and providing an end supported cover brace.

2. A packing case comprising side and end walls, said end walls being provided with slots in their upper edges, cover members hinged to said side walls, flanges on the inner edges of said cover members, said flanges entering said slots and providing an end supported cover brace, the comers of said flanges cooperating to form a groove, and a sealing member positioned in said groove and overlapping both cover members.

3. A packing case comprising side and end walls, said end walls being provided with slots in their upper edges, cover members hinged to said side walls, and flanges on the inner edges of said cover members, said flanges entering said slots and providing an end supported cover brace, the corners of said flanges being beveled and cooperating to form a groove for the reception of a sealing band.

4. A packing case comprising side and end walls, said end walls being provided with slots in their upper edges, cover members hinged to said side walls, reinforcing strips secured to said flanges, said reinforcing strips entering said slots and providing an end supported cover brace, the ends of said reinforcing strips lying substantially 'flush with the outer face of an end wall, and locking means entering said flush ends.

'5. A packing case comprising side and end walls, said end walls being provided with slots in their upper edges, cover members hinged to said side walls, reinforcing strips secured to said flanges, said reinforcing "strips entering said slots and providing an end supported brace, the corners of said flanges being beveled and cooperating to form a'groove for the reception of a sealing band, the ends of said reinforcing strips lying substantially flush with the outer face of an end wall, and locking means entering said flush ends.

6. A packing case comprising side and end walls, cover members hinged to said side walls, and flanges on the inner edges of said cover members, said end walls being provided in their upper edges with slots of less depth than said flanges, said flanges being notched at their ends and entering said slots, whereby said flanges provide both vertical and lateral bracing for the case.

7. A packing case comprising side and end walls, cross bars positioned at the upper edges of said end walls, said cross bars being provided with slots, cover members hinged to said side walls, flanges on the inner edges of said cover members, and reinforcing strips secured to said flanges, said reinforcing strips entering said slots and providing an end supported cover brace.

8. A packing case comprising side and end walls, cross bars positioned at the upper edges of said end walls, said cross bars being provided with slots, cover members hinged 'to said side walls, flanges on the inner edges of said cover members, reinforcing strips secured to said flanges, said reinforcing strips entering said slots and providing an end supported cover brace, the corners of said flanges being beveled and cooperating to form a groove, and a sealing member positioned in said groove and overlapping both cover members.

CLIFFORD D. FALLERT. 

